Plans To Ban ‘Meaty’ Vegan Labels On Hold In Belgium

Belgium has put plans to ban "meaty" labels on vegan foods on hold before the upcoming federal election. This decision comes after over three years of debate, with farmers groups calling for the ban due to concerns that the labels might mislead consumers. A working group established in 2020 to explore this issue involving various meat-industry bodies has not reached a consensus on whether terms like "vegan steak" could cause confusion.

Despite a growing trend of Europeans reducing their meat consumption, some European governments, including Belgium, are pushing back against plant-based alternatives. While Belgium's stance on "meaty" labels remains uncertain following the election, other countries like France and Poland have considered banning similar terms from vegan products. On the other hand, Switzerland recently ruled that such labels are not deceptive to consumers, and debates continue within the EU about updating agricultural policies to potentially support plant-based alternatives.